There are a number of reasons that may cause your PST file to become 0KB in size. In most cases, this is due to corruption in the file itself.
However, there are 15 methods that you can use to recover your data from a 0KB PST file, but these are the 6 best methods to outperform:
1. Run ScanPST.exe:
The first thing you should try is running Microsoft’s own repair tool, ScanPST.exe. This tool is designed to repair corrupt PST files, and it may be able to fix your 0KB PST file as well.
To use ScanPST.exe, locate the file on your computer (usually in the C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OfficeXX folder) and double-click to open it.
Browse to the location of your PST file, select it, and click the Start button. ScanPST will now scan your PST file for errors.
If it finds any, it will attempt to fix them automatically. Once the process is finished, try opening your PST file again to see if it’s been successful.
2. Use a third-party recovery tool:
If ScanPST fails or you can’t find the file on your computer, you’ll need to use a third-party recovery tool. There are many different options available, but we recommend using Stellar Phoenix Outlook PST Repair.
This tool can repair corrupt PST files and recover all of your data, including emails, contacts, calendar entries, and more.
3. Create a new PST file:
If your PST file is truly corrupt and cannot be repaired, you can create a new one and then try to import your old data into it. To do this, open Outlook and go to File > New > Outlook Data File.
Select the type of PST file you want to create (Unicode or ANSI) and give it a name. Once the PST file has been created, you can try importing your old data into it.
4. Use an email recovery tool:
If you’re only trying to recover emails from your 0KB PST file, you can use an email recovery tool like Email Recovery for Outlook. This tool can scan your PST file for emails and recover them as individual EML files.
5. Use a data recovery tool:
If you’re struggling to open your PST file in Outlook or with a third-party recovery tool, you may be able to use a data recovery tool like DataNumen Outlook Repair instead.
This tool can scan your PST file for all types of data, including emails, contacts, calendar entries, tasks, and more. It can then save this data to a new PST file which you can open in Outlook.
6. Ask Microsoft for help:
If you still can’t open your 0KB PST file, your last resort is to contact Microsoft for help. They may be able to provide you with a new copy of the PST file or help you to repair it.
These are the top 6 methods you can use to recover your data from a 0KB PST file. In most cases, running ScanPST.exe or using a third-party recovery tool will be enough to fix the problem. However, if your PST file is severely corrupt, you may need to create a new one and then import your old data.
If all else fails, you can contact Microsoft for help. They may be able to provide you with a new copy of your PST file or help you to repair it.
If you’re having trouble opening your 0KB PST file in Outlook or with a third-party recovery tool, you may be able to use a data recovery tool like DataNumen Outlook Repair instead. This tool can scan your PST file for all types of data, including emails, contacts, calendar entries, tasks, and more. It can then save this data to a new PST file which you can open in Outlook.
Conclusion:
There are many reasons why your PST file may be 0KB in size. In most cases, it’s due to corruption and can be fixed by running ScanPST.exe or using a third-party recovery tool. However, if your PST file is severely corrupt, you may need to create a new one and then import your old data. If all else fails, you can contact Microsoft for help.
Microsoft has a wide variety of tools you can use to repair your PST file, including the Inbox Repair Tool (ScanPST.exe) and the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant for Office 365.
